Xcud-qtrard



F. LORIMEIL.

MUD GUARD' FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED use. a, 1,911.

Patented May13, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

. 7 5 l izvaruzorz' wag 9 wiiorngyar F. LORIMEH.

MUD GUARD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION HLED DEC. 8. 1917. $1

Patented May 13, 1919- lid til

z PER, OI! BOSTON, MABEAGHUBETTE.

specification of letters Patent.

a non Moron-ventures,

Patented May 111i llll't hpplloetlon filed December t, 1917. serial No. tlldttt.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l[, FELIX Lorna/run a citizen of the United btates, residing at ldoston, in the county of 'Sudol'k and "State of Massaehusetts, have invented new and useful limprovements in Mud-Guards for Motor-Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has for its object to enable the chaufl'eur of a motor vehicle, while in position to control the hand wheel, to observe a suflicient portion of one of the steering wheels of the vehicle, and thus determine before starting the vehicle, the angularity of the steering wheels relatively to the front axle, this knowledge being important in many cases, as is well known by motor vehicle operators.

The invention is embodied in the improvements hereinafter described and claimed relating to a mud guard for a motor vehicle steering wheel adapted to permit an occupant of the vehicle to see a sufficient portion of the steering wheel under said uard, and

thus determine the angularity of the steering wheel, and of the other steering'wheel, which of course, corresponds in position with the one which is visible.

@f the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificat1on,-

Figure l is a side view of a portion of a motor vehicle, having a mud guard embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a mud guard, shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the mud guard shown by Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. at is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a somewhat diflerent embodiment of the invention.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a. portion of the mud guard shown by Fig. 4. v

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the mud guard showing another modification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

][n the drawings, 12 represents one of the steering wheels of a motor vehicle, and 13 the hand wheel of the steering mechanism.

14 represents a mud guard, located over the steering wheel 12.

The mud guard 14 is provided with a sight opening located in the line of vision,

from the eyes of an operator seated in the vehicle, to a portion of the steering wheel 12. lit may beassumed that the operator will incline his body outward or over one side of the vehicle body, for the purpose of viewing the steering wheel while seated in position to manipulate the hand'wheel.

ln the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. 1., 2, and 3, the sight opening is in a substantially vertical plane, and is bounded by a frame 15, the sight opening being virtually a window standing vertically in a projection 16 built out to receive itfrom a sloping portion of the mud guard I l. The projection 16 and frame 15, therefore, form a structure analogous to a dormer window, the portion of the mud guard within and under said structure being cut away to fo an opening 17, which is virtually a part ofthe sight opening, the opening bounded by the frame 15, and the opening 17 bein in the line of vision of an operator looFing from the vehicle toward the steering wheel 12.

The opening bounded by the frame l5 is preferably provided with a continuous transparent cover 18, which may be a pane of any suitable transparent, or relatively transparent material, such as mica,glass,ce1luloid, or gelatin. The frame 15 and the transparent cover are displaceable, to permit the exposure of the inner sideof the cover for cleaning; As here shown, the frame 15 is connected at one end by hinges 19 with a portion of the mud guard, its opposite end lid til

being detachably secured by a suitable catch 20, to maintain the cover in its operative position.

F prefer to provide means for illuminating the visible portion of the steering wheel,

or that portion which is seen by the operator.

through the sight opening. To this end ll preferably employ an incandescent electric lamp 21, located adjacent to the sight opening, and preferably secured to the mud guard in substantially the location indicated by Fig. 2, said lamp being adapted to illuminate the upper portion of thewheel 12..

To prevent mud thrown upwardly by the wheel 12 from reaching the sight opening, ll provide an intercepting guard 22 projecting from the mud guard toward the periphery of the steering wheel and normally out of contact with the latter. 2 The guard 22 is in tion of that part of the patln'of mud thrown upwardly wheel 12, toward the sight openin the lam 21 is provided, the guar 22 is located be ow the lamp, as shown by Fig. 2, to prevent mud from reaching the lamp.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. 4 and 5 a sloping portion of the mud guard 14 is provided with a slght opening 23, which is covered by a transparent plane 24, held by a frame 25 suitably secured to the mud guard. As .here shown, the frame 25 is connected at one end by hinges 26 with an outer frame or casi 27 attached to the mud guard, and surroun mg the sight opening 23, the opposite end of the frame 25 being detachably connected w1th said casmg by a catch 28. j

As shown by Fig. 6, a sight openmg 29 may be provided, occu ymg the ma or ore mud guard w ich is located over and adjacent to the steering wheel, said sight opening being provided with a transparent cover 30 which conforms to the general shape of the mud guard. In this embodimentof the invention, the mud guard may be said to include a marginal frame portion of suitable strength and rigidity and necessarily opaque, and a lighttransmitting portion formed, by the cover 30.

The mud guard may be provided with a window adjacent to the sight opening to admit daylight to the portion of the "wheel 1 that is seen through the sight opening. In

that it may "yield or swing upwardl openings may be provided, eac

Fig. 3 I show windows 31, 32, in the top and sides of the projection 16. In Fig. 5 I show a window 33. Said windows may be provided with transparent covers or panes. It is obvious that the mud guard may be provided with a magnifying lens in its sight opening. A plurality or grou of sight of relatively small area, the group being arranged so that the operator may see a portion of the wheel through'each openmg- Each of said openings may be provided with a magnifying lens. The pro ection 16 may be provided with a lamp 21, as shown by Fig. 2.-

The deflecting lip or flange 22 ma be hinged to the mud guard at 34 (Fig. 2i, so y in case it is caused by abnormal movements of the body, to strike the wheel.-

The portion of the mud guard containing the sig t opening may be enlarged or widened, as shown by Fig. 7. .The mud ard may be rovided with amirror 36 (Fig. 5) arrange adjacent to any suitable opening, to permit the operatorto see above the mud guard, a reflected image of a portion of the wheel. Said mirror may also be arranged to show or reflect objects behind the vehicle. The mirror maybe located on the projection 16, above the sight opening therein.

I claim: I

1. A motor vehicle of the character described comprising a mud guard located over the steering wheel of the vehicle and having a sight opening to permit the occupant of the vehicle to see a portion of said steering wheel, a hinged transparent cover for said opening attached to said mud guard and means for releasably securin sair cover in its closed position over sai openmg.

' 2. In a motor vehicle a mud guard located over a steering wheel and having a sight otpening arranged to permit an occupant o the vehicle to see a portion of said wheel, a transparent cover for said opening hinged to the mud guard, means for releasably securing the cover over said opening, and means independent ofthe sight 0 ening for efi'ecting illumination of sa d w eel.

3. In a motor vehicle, a mud ard located over a steering wheel and sight opening arranged to permit an occupant of the vehicle to see a portion of the steering wheel, and a continuous trans arent cover for said opening, the mud gufar being provided with a window for the admission of daylight to the portion of the steering wheel which is visible through said opening, and with a lam whereb said wheel portion may be an cially uminated.

4. In a motor vehicle, a mud guard localted over a steering wheel and having atoward the eriphery of the steering wheel and norma y out of contact with the lat ter, said intercepting guard being in the path of mud thrown upwardly by the wheel toward the sight opening.

5. In a motor vehicle, a mud cated over a steering wheel and .aving a sight opening arranged to permit an occupant of the vehicle to see a portion of the wheel, a transparent cover for said opemng, and an intercepting guard rojecting from the under surface of the mud guard toward the [periphery of the steering wheel and norma y out of contact with the latter, said intercepting guard bein in the path of mud thrown upwardly by t e wheel toward the sight 0 ning, and hinged to the muadguard to yiel in case the intercepting gu is brought by abnormal movement of the mud guard contact with the. wheel. v

1 6. In a motor vehicle a .mud rd located over a steering wheel and ving a sight opening arranged to permit an occupant of the vehicle to see a portion of the steering wheel, a lamp whereby saidportion -may be illuminated, and an intercepting aving a guard projeoting from the under surface of the mud guard toward the periphery of the "steering wheel and out of contact with the letter, said intercepting guard being in the 5 path of mud thrown upwardly by the wheel toward the sight opening and lamp.

7. A mud guard for a motor vehicle steering wheel, having a dormer-like projection provided with a' 'rearwardly facing sight 0 ning arranged to permit an oocu- 10 pant 0 the vehicle to see a. portion of the steering wheel under said guard.

In testimony whereof -I afiix my signature.

FELIX LORIMER. 

